What Lavan does

Lavan is a full-service independent commercial law firm headquartered in Perth, Western Australia, and is positioned as Western Australia's largest independent law firm. Founded in 1898 by Michael Gibson Lavan KC, the firm has operated continuously for over 125 years and today fields 24 partners and more than 200 staff across a single Perth office at Level 20, 1 William Street. The firm serves private and public sector clients both within Western Australia and nationally, delivering professional legal services through direct client engagement and referrals.

The firm offers 23 distinct legal service lines organised around eight key industry verticals: Aged Care/Seniors Living/Disability, Agribusiness, Education, Family & Private Clients, Finance & Banking, Government & Public Sector, Mining & Resources, and Real Estate & Building. Service lines span corporate and transactional work (Deals & Corporate Advisory, Lending & Debt Transactions, Restructuring & Insolvency), regulatory practices (Aged Care, Disability, Retirement Villages, Land Lease Communities, Competition/Consumer), and disputes (Litigation, Employment/Industrial Relations, Family Law, Native Title). Lavan holds industry-body partnerships with peak Australian organisations including AICD, PCA, UDIA, PIA, AIB, API, and CCF, and has been recognised in The Best Law Firms in Australia 2027 across 15 categories with seven Tier 1 rankings.

Lavan generates revenue exclusively through professional legal services billed on an engagement-scoped, quote-based model with no publicly disclosed pricing. The firm is a private partnership owned and controlled by its partners under the legal name Lavan, with no parent company, external investors, or subsidiaries. It is led by Managing Partner Dean Hely. The firm has no proprietary technology stack, no apps, and no disclosed APIs, positioning its offering as traditional professional services augmented by thought-leadership publications, industry partnerships, and community engagement rather than technology-led differentiation.

Name

Lavan

Legal name

Lavan

Website

https://lavan.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1898

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Lavan is Western Australia's largest independent full-service law firm, founded 1898, with 24 partners and 200+ staff delivering 23 legal service areas across 8 sectors including mining, real estate, government, finance, and aged care.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Services

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (54111)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Family & Private Client (Trusts & Estates) Law (BPAHAAAK)

Keywords

• Commercial legal services
• Corporate advisory services
• Litigation and disputes
• Property and leasing law
• Regulatory compliance law

Headquarters

HQ city

Perth

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Legal Services: Lavan generates revenue through providing professional legal services to clients across multiple practice areas including corporate advisory, litigation, property, employment, family law, and other specialised legal services. Fees are charged for legal advice, transaction work, litigation services, and other professional engagements.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Lavan is a full-service independent law firm delivering professional legal advisory, transactional, regulatory, and dispute resolution services across 23 practice areas. The firm serves corporate, government, and private clients in Western Australia and nationally, with particular depth in mining and resources, real estate and building, finance and banking, government, and aged care sectors. Revenue is generated through engagement-based professional service fees for legal advice, transaction work, litigation, and specialised regulatory counsel.

Product overview

Lavan is a full-service law firm offering a comprehensive portfolio of 23 distinct legal service areas covering all aspects of commercial and personal legal needs. The firm's services range from corporate and commercial matters (Deals & Corporate Advisory, Restructuring & Insolvency, Lending & Debt Transactions) to specialized regulatory practices (Aged Care Regulatory, Disability Regulatory, Retirement Villages Regulatory, Cyber Privacy & Data Protection) to litigation and dispute resolution (Litigation Disputes & Investigations, Family Law, Employment Industrial Relations & Safety). The firm serves eight key industry sectors including Mining & Resources, Real Estate & Building, Finance & Banking, Government & Public Sector, and Aged Care.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aged Care Regulatory Advisory services covering aged care regulatory and compliance, clinical governance and risk, complaints and incidents, regulatory investigations, corporate structuring and financing, disputes and litigation, mergers/acquisitions/service transfers, privacy and data governance, property/development/construction, residential and home care agreements, and workplace health, safety and employment matters for aged care providers.
• Competition, Consumer & Regulation Legal services covering competition law, consumer law, market regulation, third-party access law, and trade practices for businesses operating in regulated markets.
• Construction & Infrastructure Advisory services on construction claims, contracts, disputes, contract administration, construction industry seminars, and training on construction law for builders, contractors, and infrastructure projects.
• Corporate Crime & Investigations Services covering criminal procedure, cross-functional regulatory advice, and investigations and prosecutions for corporations and individuals facing corporate crime exposure.
• Cyber, Privacy & Data Protection Advisory covering cyber and human resources, cyber and insurance, cyber and intellectual property, cyber risk and protection, and overall cyber security, privacy and data protection for organisations managing cyber and data risk.
• Deals & Corporate Advisory Advisory services covering board and shareholder control strategies, corporate governance, equity capital markets, foreign investment, mergers and acquisitions, and regulatory matters for corporate transactions.
• Disability Regulatory Advisory on clinical and operational governance, NDIS compliance, disputes, Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA), and provider restructuring for disability service providers.
• Employment, Industrial Relations & Safety Services covering discrimination, dispute resolution, industrial relations, workplace contracts, and occupational health and safety for employers and employees.
• Family Law Advisory on adoption, alternative dispute resolution, child support, divorce, financial settlement, parenting matters, and spousal maintenance for families and individuals.
• Intellectual Property & Technology Services in confidential information, copyright, IP agreements, IP litigation, and trade marks for businesses and brand owners.
• Land Lease Communities Regulatory Advisory services for land lease community regulatory matters, including compliance and operator obligations.
• Lending & Debt Transactions Services in commercial disputes, litigation, mediation, arbitration, and strategic advice for lenders, borrowers, and financial institutions on debt transactions.
• Liquor Licensing Advisory services for hospitality, sports clubs, tourism, and public events requiring liquor licensing approvals.
• Litigation, Disputes & Investigations Legal representation and strategic advice in disputes, litigation, and investigations for corporate and private clients.
• Migration Services covering administrative tribunal matters, DAMA applications, visa applications, and citizenship matters for employers and individuals.
• Native Title, Indigenous Heritage & First Nations Advisory on First Nations matters, Indigenous heritage, and native title for resources companies, developers, and government.
• Planning, Environment & Land Compensation Services covering contaminated sites, enforcement, environment law, planning law, and property litigation for developers, landowners, and government.
• Private Clients Advisory in family office, probate, succession planning, and wills and estates for high net worth individuals and families.
• Pro Bono Pro bono legal services provided for vulnerable and disadvantaged community members, recognised by the 2025 Attorney General's Community Service Award.
• Property & Leasing Services in acquisitions, disposals, land development, leasing, structuring, and syndication for property owners, developers, landlords, and tenants.
• Restructuring & Insolvency Advisory covering disputes, insolvency, recovery services, and restructuring for distressed businesses, creditors, and insolvency practitioners.
• Retirement Villages Regulatory Services for acquisitions, divestments, complaints, regulatory compliance, governance, and resident issues in retirement villages.
• Wills & Estates Advisory on estate administration, estate litigation, and wills and estate planning for individuals and families.

Named customers2 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Australian Institute of Builders (AIB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Australian Institute of Builders is a professional member-based organisation established to represent construction industry individuals. It brings together individuals who share a common interest in improving the standing of the building profession and their careers within Australia and overseas.
• Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralia's premier leadership organisation for directors and business leaders, representing over 43,000 members across business, government, and non-profit sectors. It aims to strengthen society through world-class governance.
• Australian Medical Association (AMA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe peak professional body for doctors in Australia. AMA promotes and protects the professional interests of doctors and the healthcare needs of patients and communities.
• Australian Property Institute (API)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe leading membership body for valuers and property professionals in Australia. API is an accreditation body that sets and maintains industry standards, compliance, and regulatory frameworks.
• Civil Contractors Federation (CCF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRepresents, informs and connects civil contractors and associated businesses in the Western Australian civil construction industry. It is the peak industry body and represents Australia's civil construction industry.
• National Disability Services (NDS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralia's peak body for disability service organisations and Australia's biggest and most diverse network of disability service providers.
• Property Council of Australia (PCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe leading advocate for Australia's biggest industry – property. PCA champions the interests of companies across the full spectrum of the property sector.
• Planning Institute of Australia (PIA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe national body representing planning and the planning profession. PIA's mission is to inspire planners and elevate their role in shaping Australia's future.
• Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe development industry's most broadly representative industry association, with more than 2,500 member companies spanning top tier global enterprises and consultants to local governments and small-scale developers.
• Western Australian LeadersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides private companies with the knowledge, networks and capital required to grow. Since 2006, more than 1,000 companies have benefited from this dynamic and trusted community of experts and peers.
• Breast Cancer Care WAminorOthersCommunity sponsorship of Breast Cancer Care WA which has been providing specialist breast care nursing, counselling, and support to West Australians facing breast cancer for 25 years.
• Camp QualityminorOthersCommunity sponsorship bringing positivity, fun and laughter to kids facing cancer. Camp Quality has been improving quality of life for kids impacted by cancer for over 40 years.
• Foodbank WAminorOthersCommunity sponsorship of Western Australia's largest food relief organisation operating across five regional branches and supporting over 900 front line charities and schools.
• Future Footprints - AISWAminorOthersSponsorship of Future Footprints program supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people through education, from boarding schools to post-school opportunities.
• Rottnest Channel Swim AssociationminorOthersLong-standing supporter and sponsor of The Lavan Charity Challenge; a key category of the South32 Rottnest Channel Swim. Forty teams of four swimmers compete while raising funds for local charities.
• Surfing WAminorOthersSponsor of the annual Lavan Whalebone Longboard Classic, a highlight of the Western Australian surfing calendar attracting surfers from across the state.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Ashurst: International law firm with significant Australian presence including Perth. Competes for major resources, infrastructure, and corporate finance mandates where international capability is required.
• DLA Piper: Global law firm with Perth office focused on resources, energy, and infrastructure. Competes for cross-border mandates and large-scale transactions where Lavan's international network is less developed.
• MinterEllison: National Australian law firm with full-service Perth office. Competes with Lavan across corporate advisory, government, and resources sectors with broader geographic reach.
• Allens: National full-service firm with strong corporate, banking, and resources practices and a Perth presence. Competes with Lavan on major transactions and disputes work in WA, particularly in the resources sector.
• Corrs Chambers Westgarth: Australian full-service firm with Perth office, strong in corporate, disputes, and regulatory work. Competes with Lavan for WA-headquartered corporates seeking national representation.
• King & Wood Mallesons: Australia's largest law firm with a Perth office, offering full-service commercial legal coverage. Competes with Lavan for major WA corporate, banking, and resources mandates but operates at significantly larger national and global scale.
• Clayton Utz: National Australian law firm with Perth office serving corporate, government, and resources clients. Competes with Lavan in mid-market corporate advisory, regulatory, and litigation work in WA.
• Herbert Smith Freehills: Global law firm with major Perth office servicing resources, energy, and infrastructure clients. Competes for high-end transactional and disputes work in WA; broader geographic and capability footprint than Lavan.
• Norton Rose Fulbright: Global law firm with Perth office servicing mining, energy, and financial services clients. Competes with Lavan for major resources sector mandates requiring international legal coordination.

Direct peers

• Jackson McDonald: Perth-based full-service independent law firm of comparable scale with strong mining, energy, and government practices. Most direct competitor to Lavan in the WA market, competing for the same major clients and lateral talent.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/lavantweets
• Facebookfacebook.com/Lavan120
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lavan-australia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lavan